Point of View

The novel is told in the third-person past perspective. It alternates between the three main characters: Miriam, Karolina, and Emily. Each chapter is titled with one of the women’s names, so that the reader always immediately knows whose perspective is being followed throughout the chapter.

Although all three women are living in Greenwich for most of the story, and continually interacting with one another, their individual chapters offer deeper insight into their minds and emotions. Also, when one character is “narrating” the other characters are able to be viewed by the central character, which often results in fresh insights into the secondary character, as when we learn that Emily views Miriam as having a perfect marriage after we know that Miriam is terrified that her marriage is falling apart.

During Emily’s chapters, the focus is always on Emily and her career problems. Although...